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Minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN can no longer be overlooked within the global hemp and cannabis market. Analysts everywhere are beginning to recognize that the hemp cannabinoid industry is about much more than just CBD, and efforts are being made worldwide to welcome a wider spectrum of cannabinoids into the fold.

The story of the cannabinoid industry is currently evolving across multiple continents and incorporates more than a dozen unique compounds. What began with pushback against prohibition has grown into something more: Cannabinoids are being looked at for medicine around the world, and nowhere more so than in the United States.

In this guide, we’ll examine four recent reports that shed light on the breakneck rate at which the global cannabinoid industry is growing and complexifying. Our core focus will be cannabinoid growth trends in the USA and how they’re spreading worldwide.

By the end, you’ll know how the cannabinoid industry is currently faring, how it’s expected to evolve, and what we need to do to help it along. As you’ll see, the days of opportunity offered by cannabinoids are far from over — in fact, the golden era of hemp has hardly yet begun.

Cannabis is growing globally

For our first piece of insight, we turn to prestigious analysis firm Markets and Markets, which recently released a new, compendious report in September 2022 covering the ins and outs of cannabis when viewed from a global scale. Titled “Cannabis Market by Product Type, Compound, Application, And Region – Global Forecast to 2027¹,” this report estimates that cannabis overall was worth $27.7 billion globally in 2022 and is expected to swell to $82.3 billion by 2027.

If you’d told a savvy investor in 2007 that legal cannabis would be worth nearly $100 billion in two decades, you would have been scoffed at. Yet today, the most trusted voices in the field are convinced cannabinoids have a shot at mainstream success sooner than anyone imagined.

US cannabis sales to reach $42 billion by 2026

While numbers like “$82.3 billion” are impressive, they don’t tell us a lot about how the US market fits into this picture. Some intrepid US-based cannabinoid businesses have already started expanding their footprints globally, but most domestic cannabinoid brands keep their business within national borders.

To narrow our focus to the United States, we turn to BDSA, which commonly provides critical analytic information regarding the growing cannabinoid industry. In a report entitled “BDSA Reports Global Cannabis Sales Will Grow 10% in 2022; Forecasts $57 Billion Market by 2026²,” BDSA predicts that the US cannabis industry will be worth $42 billion by 2026, composing more than 75% of total global cannabis sales.

Projected $60bn industry by 2030

For more detail on the projected growth of the US cannabinoid industry, we’ll next examine a report produced by Grandview Research in 2021. Titled “U.S. Cannabinoids Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2030,³” the report begins by assessing that the overall US cannabinoid industry was worth $14.6 billion in 2021, a figure that roughly coincides BDSA’s estimated $25 billion in US cannabis sales during the same year.

The further we look out, the more BDSA and Grandview concur. Where BDSA forecasts the US cannabis industry at $42 billion in 2027, Grandview predicts that the industry will be worth $60.4 billion three years later in 2030.

Combining the data provided by the two analysis firms, US cannabis can be expected to grow by nearly $6 billion per year between 2027 and 2030. The time to prepare for this coming era of opportunity is now.

CBD is the most popular cannabinoid

It’s clear from this analysis that the US is the main driver of cannabis sales globally. What percentage of these cannabis sales, however, are driven by non-THC cannabinoids?

According to Grandview, CBD surpassed THC as the most popular cannabinoid in the United States in 2021, amassing an estimated 27.2% of market share. THC was estimated to make up less than a quarter of cannabis sales by comparison with additional cannabinoids representing 10% or less of the US cannabinoids market.

CBG, CBN, CBC, CBGA, & others making inroads

Even though their current market share may be small, the growth displayed by minor cannabinoids, especially CBN and CBG, should not be overlooked. These are no longer fringe chemicals hanging onto the coattails of THC and CBD. They’re legitimate contributors to the domestic cannabinoid economy, and they’ll only take up greater shares of the market as time goes by.

Trends in US cannabinoid growth

However they may look at it, America’s best market analysis firms all agree that the US cannabinoid market is set for explosive growth over the next few years. One of the factors driving this growth that is not discussed nearly enough is the mounting importance of the role minor cannabinoids play in the global cannabinoid economy.

As a quick example, the carboxylic acid precursor to CBG, CBGA, has been identified as the “stem cell” or origin point of most popular cannabinoids. As a result, CBG-rich hemp has come into considerable demand as a source material for synthesized cannabinoids.

It’s hard to say which rare variant of hemp might become popular next as the market continues to produce new and unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The point is that Cannabis sativa is far more than just CBD and THC, a point that cannabis industry stakeholders are starting to notice.

Another recent BDSA report, for instance, details how CBN and especially CBG are currently exploding into the domestic cannabinoid market, driving growth numbers that make you look twice to ensure you read the figure right. Anyone skeptical about the long-term viability of the cannabinoid industry as CBD’s growth has cooled would do well to carefully analyze the following data:

CBD is stabilizing

In its report, titled “CBN and CBG Sales See Rapid Growth as CBD Sales Slow in Cannabis Markets⁴,” BDSA finds that CBD has, indeed, shown modest growth reductions in certain mature markets. Given the massive popularity CBD has already achieved along with its continued breakneck growth in newer domestic markets, these findings shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

Launching a new line of CBD products can be a viable option in today’s market, and it has the potential to be successful. However, including a range of CBG and CBN products in the offering can further enhance the potential success, by providing a wider range of options to appeal to different customers.

CBN is accelerating

CBN is showing impressive gains in many cannabis-aware markets, most notably in Colorado in which sales of the minor cannabinoid increased by 145% year-over-year in 2022. Oregon (22%), Nevada (30%), and California (29%) also posted decent gains.

Clearly, CBN is catching on in areas where other cannabinoids have been available for a while. Seeking to branch out and amplify specific benefits offered by cannabinoids, shoppers are increasingly searching for CBN by name.

CBG is skyrocketing

The gains showed by CBN are nothing compared to what the cannabinoid industry has witnessed in the CBG sector over the last year. Three states (Colorado: 1251%, Oregon: 1185%, Nevada: 1105%) showed more than 10-times increases in CBG sales in 2022. California’s CBG market grew more than six times over (655%), heralding another watershed moment in the history of minor cannabinoids.

Additional cannabinoids are also gaining

As we’ve seen from Grandview Research’s 2021 report, CBN and CBG are hardly the only cannabinoids emerging into the domestic hemp market. Also popular enough to pop up on Grandview’s radar are CBC and CBGA, which are trending for different reasons.

We discussed earlier how CBGA is playing a greater role in cannabinoid research and production. Cannabichromene (CBC), for its part, is likely to soon join CBN and CBG as yet another CBD-complimentary cannabinoid that offers distinct benefits.

Key drivers of cannabinoid growth

What’s causing these unprecedented levels of growth across multiple cannabinoids in both US and international markets? Grandview summarizes it simply by opining that “[k]ey factors driving the U.S. cannabinoids market growth include increasing awareness about the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, the growing legalization of cannabis and its derivatives in various countries.” Let’s unpack these points in more detail.

Increased awareness of cannabinoid benefits

It’s a fact that awareness of cannabinoids and their benefits has gone up a notch over the last year or two. A social media space once dominated by brands desperate to leave any impression at all has now been rightfully commandeered by shoppers and skeptics alike asking questions and receiving thoughtful, measured responses from peer experts.

In this online environment that fosters free exchange of ideas, awareness of the unique benefits of distinct cannabinoids has spread like wildfire. Those who were already familiar with cannabinoids no longer see CBD as the be-all, end-all, and cannabinoid newbies are entering a product environment already differentiated into CBD, CBG, and CBN offerings.

Growing legalization and acceptance of cannabinoids

Alongside this hive-mind acceptance of cannabinoids now displayed in online social spaces comes a growing wave of cannabis legalization efforts around the globe. The US states that still outlaw cannabis are now in the distinct minority, and the factors holding back the continued growth of the domestic cannabinoid economy are primarily bureaucratic rather than existential.d

US policy sets the tone worldwide, leading the entire globe to adopt America’s ironically hypocritical stance toward cannabinoids. Everyone uses them and loves them, but some of them are still technically illegal. In this environment, cannabinoids inherently free of intoxicating stigma (CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, etc.) can flourish even better than those still overshadowed by a history of prohibition.

Ingredient combinations and product differentiation

If the domestic hemp cannabinoid economy were still limited to CBD, the types of growth numbers we witnessed in 2022 would not have been possible. Unless they happened to get very lucky with a jackpot idea, it was only by adding CBG and CBN into their product lines that brands showed 1000%+ gains over the last year.

Anyone still unconvinced of the absolute necessity of effective product differentiation should stand corrected by the performance of the domestic cannabinoid market in 2022. Conventional products treaded water while highly differentiated products containing CBG or CBN shot leaps and bounds ahead.

The cannabinoid industry is complexifying but still growing rapidly

CBD isn’t going anywhere. It’s the backbone of the non-intoxicating camp of the international cannabis industry, and it provides a level of familiarity and comfort that shoppers still don’t have with CBG and CBN.

At the same time, it would be wise for brands that still haven’t adventured outside the CBD nest to test the air. The most impressive year-over-year gains, after all, are no longer happening in the context of CBD. They’re happening in the context of CBG and CBN, add-ons that are simply expanding CBD in a new dimension now that it has limited space to expand directly.

Over the remaining part of the decade, the United States will continue to make up the majority of the global cannabis market, and the US cannabis market will continue to be dominated by CBD. Alongside CBD, you’ll see CBN and CBG rise up, and soon after them, CBC, CBDA, and CBGA as well.

While it may be new territory for cannabinoid brands, this is hardly the last time the global cannabis industry will mature or complexify. Each time a door is closed, a window will open — the window for the next few years, at least, appears to take the shape of CBG and CBN.

Sources:

1. 1. Cannabis Market. (n.d.). MarketsandMarkets. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cannabis-market-201768301.html
2. 2. Reports Global Cannabis Sales Will Grow 10% in 2022; Forecasts $57 Billion Market by 2026. (2022, November 9). BDSA. https://bdsa.com/press-release/bdsa-reports-global-cannabis-sales-will-grow-10-in-2022-forecasts-57-billion-market-by-2026/
3. 3. Rice, A. (2022, June 7). CBN Sales & CBG Sales See Rapid Growth as CBD Sales Slow. BDSA. https://bdsa.com/cbn-and-cbg-sales-see-rapid-growth/
4. 4. U.S. Cannabinoids Market Size & Share Report, 2022-2030. (n.d.). https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-cannabinoids-market

Depending on the situation, using cannabinoids topically can be the most effective and desirable solution. Even so, cannabinoid-infused topicals have traditionally been slower-growing compared to long-trending categories like CBD tinctures and gummies.

The latest data compiled by Statista, however, suggest that the topical tide is turning. A greater number of younger people are turning to cannabinoid topicals and skincare products, and insights from a mature market can now help us understand the main holdups currently hindering the growth of this category.

By solving the problems that people currently have with CBD topicals, your products will deliver the genuine value that shoppers are seeking. In this guide, find out who to market cannabinoid topicals toward and how to formulate your products to fit average hemp consumer needs.

Who uses hemp topicals and skincare products?

We’ll start by examining the available data regarding who currently uses or is interested in using cannabinoid skincare products: both their age and gender. Understanding your target demographic is a key step in developing a cannabinoid topical product that will succeed in 2023 and beyond. Let’s begin by taking a look at the likelihood a person uses CBD topicals based on their age:

Hemp topical use by generation

Between April 9th and 11th, 2021, Statista conducted a survey¹ of more than 30,000 Americans regarding their interest in CBD beauty and personal care products. The respondents were divided by age, and their chosen responses roughly fell in line with age-based demographic breakdowns of the CBD industry overall.

Interest in CBD topicals among Baby Boomers and older generations was comparatively low. It also appears that the youngest Americans, those comprising Generation Z, have not yet fully embraced the offerings available on the CBD topical market. At only 12%, Gen Z respondents showed dramatically reduced interest in CBD topicals compared to Millennial (21%) and Gen X (23%) respondents.

Many members of Generation Z are still too young to use CBD products. Among those who are already 18-21, it’s likely that CBD topicals have simply not been presented attractively to this age group. Usually branded as helping with ailments concomitant with age, CBD topicals do not immediately track with the needs of the nation’s youngest consumers, a situation that can easily be rectified with proper branding and marketing.

Messaging that supports CBD topicals is clearly getting through to individuals old enough to experience age-related woes, yet the oldest among us remain relatively naive of cannabinoid topicals and their reported benefits. It may, then, be wise to determine ways to position Millennial and Gen X CBD topical users as ambassadors who relate the benefits of this product category to both older and younger friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors.

Hemp topical use by gender

Unsurprisingly, interest in “CBD beauty and personal care products” remains significantly skewed toward women, though perhaps using “beauty” in the name Statista chose for its 2021 survey on the subject² suppressed male response. This survey, which used the same pool of 30,000+ participants mentioned in the previous section, found that 24% of American women were interested in buying CBD topical body products compared to only 16% of men. At 10%, even fewer men were interested in CBD bath products.

As societal norms related to gender continue to evolve, it would be unwise to assume that the market for CBD topical products will be limited to individuals who identify as female. With an increasing number of men also seeking alternative options for health and personal care, there is potential for CBD topicals to be embraced by a diverse range of consumers, including those who identify as male.

In any case, all individuals could use a bit of coaching when it comes to the benefits of cannabinoid topicals. Only a quarter of women are even interested in CBD topicals, which goes to show they simply aren’t aware of the immense benefits and minimal risks this cannabinoid can offer when applied topically. The work of expressing the value of hemp topicals to both men and women is far from over, and it would also be prudent to recognize that the difference between the two genders is currently on the wane.

Why do people want to use cannabinoid topicals?

It’s one thing to know who uses a product you intend to sell, but it’s another to understand the motivations that drive users of your product. When you know not only who your market is but also what motivates them, you can discover ways your brand might be able to reach additional groups of consumers who might share similar motivations.

For insights into the reasons consumers use CBD topicals, we turn to a third Statista survey³, this time from 2022. Featuring a much smaller pool of only 622 respondents aged between 21 and 65 years, this survey zeroed in on the primary motivations driving individuals who have already chosen to use CBD topicals.

Thirty-five percent of respondents cited reduction of inflammation as their main reason for trying CBD topicals, meaning that this single motivation drives more than a third of the current cannabinoid topical market. Given the general reputation CBD has received as an anti-inflammatory, it’s unsurprising that so many people are turning to this cannabinoid for its potential help with inflammation. It’s also no secret at this point that applying CBD topically usually allows more cannabinoids to reach the affected area more quickly.

Coming in second place as the most-reported motivation for buying CBD topicals was the urging of friends or family members. Though hardly anyone knew what it was a decade ago, CBD has long since become a household name, making it nearly as common to recommend to people you know who are in pain as Aspirin or ibuprofen.

CBD has also taken hold in the natural health community due to its natural origin and apparently very limited side effect profile. Whether it’s someone from a different generation, social group, or lifestyle, recommendations to try CBD topicals are coming from trusted individuals in all different walks of life.

Why don’t people use cannabinoid topicals more?

If topical products containing CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoids offer so many impressive benefits, why has this category historically experienced slower growth than quick winners like oils and capsules? Statista offers the answer to that question within the results of a 2022 survey⁴ featuring 1,157 respondents.

In this survey, consumers who had previously bought CBD topicals or skincare products were asked why they had not done so again. It may not come as much of a shock to those with awareness of the ins and outs of the hemp industry that the most-cited reason (32%) was the perceived high cost of topical CBD products.

There it is, plain and simple: Even if they’re convinced of the benefits, average people who use CBD topicals often can’t afford to continue doing so. The answer to this problem is just as simple: Thoroughly explain the value of CBD topicals while doing as much as you can to reduce pricing without impacting margins.

How much do CBD topicals cost?

To better understand the primary detractor keeping more people from using CBD topicals more frequently, we turn to a Statista market report⁵ published in 2021 consisting of data derived from 3,000+ products made by over 100 brands. In this report, Statista found that CBD topicals are the most expensive CBD products overall at nearly $0.20 per milligram.

With an increased understanding of the value of common ingredients, savvy shoppers are scrutinizing CBD topical labels and having trouble coming up with justifications for their high price tags.

In this case, the consumers aren’t exactly wrong. With many CBD topicals, prices are inflated dramatically due to the presence of additional expensive ingredients or delicate production processes. Though they’re becoming more educated on cannabinoid products, shoppers still have trouble telling genuinely high-quality cannabinoid topicals apart from low-value products capitalizing on a trend.

The answer is to reduce the pricing of CBD topicals when possible, and when not, simply explain the value of the product in ways shoppers can understand. Consumers will pay a lot for the benefits of CBD, but they have to feel confident in their decisions first.

How to make cannabinoid topicals appealing in 2023

Sitting on the shelf next to equally high-end products containing other ingredients, it can be hard for shoppers to understand why CBD topicals are worth the high prices they command. Thankfully, some of the best ways to optimize your cannabinoid product offerings overall also go a long way toward reducing costs without impacting your bottom line.

Below, we’ll take a look at five specific tips you can follow to boost the traction of CBD topicals in 2023 in any online or in-person retail environment:

1. Reduced price

First, it’s a bald fact that nobody wants to pay top dollar for CBD in 2023. The days in which hemp cannabinoids were niche substances capable of commanding higher prices are in their waning phase, and consumers are now led by the examples created by savvy CBD brands that have reduced prices without impacting quality.

When seeking ways to reduce your MSRP, it’s common to first turn to ingredient quality and margins. It’s often the case, though, that inefficient methods hold brands back from producing the same results at a lower price point. By streamlining your ingredients acquisition or other components of the formulation process, you might be able to pass savings onto customers without harming your bottom line.

2. Simpler ingredients

These days, shoppers want their products to contain the simplest, most natural ingredients possible. It’s often possible to turn this trend to your advantage: Fewer ingredients can sometimes mean reduced cost to formulate your product, and you might even be able to secure higher-quality ingredients with that wiggle room.

Coming up with a simple, efficient CBD topical formulation doesn’t have to involve reinventing the wheel. Brands often uncover massive opportunities for cost savings by offloading some or all of their formulation processes to a white labeler, for instance.

3. More cannabinoids

The sentiment certainly hasn’t soured toward CBD, but it’s not the only hemp cannabinoid around anymore, either. A growing contingent of CBD shoppers want their products also to contain CBG or CBN — or at least they want to have the option.

Substituting more-expensive ingredients for additional isolated cannabinoids is one way you can add value to your product while also simplifying its formulation and reducing its production cost. Even in their isolated forms, cannabinoids are still believed to provide the entourage effect when combined, leading to even more opportunities to make products appear valuable and beneficial to shoppers.

4. Universal appeal

While it may be true that 35% of cannabinoid topical users do so for help with inflammation, that also means that 65% use cannabinoid topicals for other reasons. While marketing CBD topicals toward specific conditions may still be appropriate under certain circumstances, it’s also important to make your products as universally appealing as possible.

Instead of describing a CBD topical as a specific ailment cream, you might want to label it an “muscle and joint cream” to also include athletic shoppers. Especially if your cannabinoid topicals will be occupying physical shelves in 2023, it’s important to catch the eye of casual customers who might be simply looking for something to help with their condition, not specifically for CBD.

5. Specialized effects

At the same time that it’s important to make CBD topicals universally appealing, it’s just as essential to make them potently effective for certain uses. CBD is only one compound, for instance — you might want to accompany it with a substance like capsaicin in a topical product designed to help with muscle pain.

It may not be necessary to overtly advertise every specialization you add to your cannabinoid topical formula. What’s important is that when a shopper uses your product, it works. They won’t necessarily want to know why it works — they might not even care if it contains CBD.

How to make 2023’s winning CBD topical

There are two ways of looking at the CBD topical market going into 2023: On the one hand, it’s one of the slowest-growing CBD subsections even though it commands the highest prices. On the other hand, though, that makes it one of the CBD product categories with the most opportunity — the pain points in the CBD topical market are easy to identify and rectify with a product that fits shopper motivations for using CBD while eliminating disincentives. Below, we’ll take a look at three tips that can help you achieve this goal:

— Top-tier ingredients

It’s a fact that formulating CBD topicals is more complicated than putting together other types of CBD products. As a result, many brands resort to inferior ingredients just to make sure other parts of their formulations work well with each other.

In other cases, brands might use high-end, boutique ingredients in their cannabinoid topicals because they think doing so imparts value. It also raises prices, though, which is the predominant pain point in the CBD topical industry at present.

— Professional methods

Trying to put together a winning CBD topical formulation without any help might not be a winning or profitable strategy in the long term. Formulating topicals is unavoidably complicated, and inefficient topical formulations won’t perform as well due to their ratio of higher prices to reduced effects.

That’s one of the reasons it can be so useful to seek the assistance of an expert in the field. The right large-scale cannabinoid private labeler will have long since discovered the most efficient and effective ways to formulate CBD topicals, saving you the trouble of struggling to put together a winning formula with no support.

— Timely formulation

The times are changing quickly, and your CBD topical formula must be able to change with it. The best-performing CBD topicals on the market cost less, feature more cannabinoids, and offer higher ingredient quality than the competition. They’re fine-tuned to the needs of today’s cannabinoid shoppers, and their formulations can be adapted as necessary to incorporate new innovations and cost-saving techniques.

Summary: Cannabinoid skincare & topicals in 2023

With due diligence from a select group of brands, 2023 could be the year that cannabinoid topicals and skincare products stop being viewed as the most expensive CBD products with benefits that are the hardest to understand. It could be the year that making the decision to buy a CBD topical becomes as easy as making the decision to buy sunscreen, moisturizer, or a pain cream containing any other ingredient.

CBD topicals don’t need to become just as affordable as other types of topicals. All that needs to happen is a confluence of slightly reduced pricing and better ambassadorship. There’s massive potential in the CBD topical sub-market just waiting to be explored by intrepid brands that aren’t afraid to take educated risks.

Sources

1. 1. Statista. (2022, June 14). Consumer interest in CBD beauty and care products in the U.S. 2021, by generation. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290066/consumer-interest-in-cbd-beauty-and-care-products-in-the-us-by-generation/
2. 2. Statista. (2022a, June 14). Consumer interest in CBD beauty and care products in the U.S. 2021, by gender. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290056/consumer-interest-in-cbd-beauty-and-care-products-in-the-us-by-gender/
3. 3. Statista. (2022c, December 12). Reasons to buy CBD skincare among U.S. shoppers 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1350854/reasons-to-buy-cbd-skincare-among-usa-shoppers/
4. 4. Statista. (2022c, December 12). Deterrents to CBD skincare purchases in the U.S. 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1350859/deterrents-to-cbd-skincare-shopping-usa/
5. 5. Statista. (2022c, August 19). Average price per milligram CBD U.S. 2021, by segment. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1327628/typical-cannabidiol-dose-us/

Every popular product or ingredient goes through three distinct stages: obscurity, in which shoppers are unaware of its existence; growth, in which sales explode; and maturity, in which demand for the product or ingredient stabilizes with supply.

Knowing that the CBD market will inevitably reach maturity, investors and brands have begun to open markets for additional non-intoxicating cannabinoids found in hemp. Chief among these “minor cannabinoids” are cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN), both of which are reasonably easy to produce even though they seem to offer many distinct benefits.

Recently, new data came to light indicating that future prospects for CBD and CBG are brighter than we previously believed. In this guide, we’ll examine a recent report from market analyst BDSA that illustrates incredible gains in the CBG and CBN industries during 2022.

US cannabinoid growth trends: An overview

The BDSA report, entitled “CBN and CBG Sales See Rapid Growth as CBD Sales Slow in Cannabis Markets¹,” begins by outlining the overall situation in the cannabinoids CBD, CBG, and CBN find themselves in light of prevailing hemp market trends. BDSA notes that shoppers use cannabinoids for “a diverse set of need states” and highlights how “CBD, CBN, and CBG can better position a brand’s products to support needs like sleep and pain relief.”

Then, BDSA reminds us that CBG and CBN can be great tools for differentiation in CBD products, something that many brands have clearly noticed. Compared to even a year ago, there’s now a notable profusion of CBD products that also include CBG, CBN, or another minor cannabinoid.

Whether it’s due to the presence of CBG and CBN products online and on shelves, increased consumer interest in the two cannabinoids, or a combination of both factors, awareness of CBG and CBN has definitely increased since 2019. According to BDSA, only 11% of shoppers were aware of CBN and only 8% were aware of CBG in the fall of 2019, which swelled to 14% and 13% respectively by fall of 2021.

The latest BDSA data on Minor Cannabinoids

Overall, BDSA found that around 70% more products contained CBN across California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, and Oregon in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021. For CBG, the number of products containing the cannabinoid doubled across the same markets.

BDSA provides much more detailed data regarding the percentage change CBD, CBG, and CBN experienced in the adult-use cannabis markets of California, Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon, which analysts consider to have reached relative maturity. In some cases, CBG and CBN sales have increased in quadruple-digit percentages year-over-year, leading many to hope that there is still a great deal of room for both cannabinoids to grow.

CBG sales are exploding

CBG sales increase in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021:

• California: +655%
• Colorado: +1251%
• Nevada: +1105%
• Oregon: +1185%

People will likely remember 2022 as the year CBG gained mainstream popularity in cannabis and hemp culture. On average, sales of this cannabinoid increased by around 10 times across four of the nation’s most mature adult-use cannabis markets. Colorado and Oregon saw some of the most impressive growth and gains.

This year, those who keep their ear to the ground on social media have noticed a trend among chronic pain sufferers. Combining CBD and CBG is becoming a trend, as this combination may enhance relief for pain. It’s partially to this viral trend that we must attribute the surge of CBG in areas that are clearly not cannabinoid-naive.

It’s possible that sales increases like these can only last for so long. We won’t know until we try, however, and as we speak, countless brands are doing all they can to continue expanding the CBG markets in California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and beyond.

CBN sales are gaining

CBN sales increase in Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021:

• California: +29%
• Colorado: +145%
• Nevada: +30%
• Oregon: +22%

Compared to CBG, sales of CBN are not growing as fast in CA, CO, NV, and OR, but it’s hard to follow up the incredible numbers CBG boasted last year. And, to be fair, the CBN market growing by two-and-a-half times in Colorado is nothing to bat an eyelash at. CBN saw approximately 50% growth in America’s mature cannabis markets in 2022, with potential for further increase in 2023.

If you’ll recall back to the beginning of the article, BDSA found that a greater share of consumers are aware of CBN than are aware of CBG. The likely cause of the discrepancy between CBG and CBN growth in 2022, then, is simply that a greater number of CBG products are currently available on the market.

The closer that the ratio of CBN to CBG products on the market nears 1:1, the greater the sales percentages CBN will boast in markets like California and Oregon. Right now, it simply seems that shoppers have a hard time buying the CBN they want, a situation brands can start rectifying immediately.

CBD sales are holding steady

In states like California, Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado that have already had CBD for a long time, BDSA noted a moderate decline in sales volume in 2022. States that are newer to cannabis and hemp overall, though, posted CBD sales increases in 2022 — including Arizona, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Even though the boom days of CBD appear to be on the wane, that’s not bad news. Market maturity provides brands with greater security, and the only payoff is being subject to greater regulation and transparency, which no reputable cannabinoid brand should fear.

There are also still plenty of states that show impressive yearly CBD sales increases. The CBD products that will do the best in both mature and naive markets are those that begin incorporating CBN, CBG, and other minor cannabinoids.

Popular CBG and CBN product categories

According to the BDSA report, gummies lead the race when it comes to product categories most likely to contain either CBG or CBN. Approximately 75% of CBN product sales and 70% of CBG product sales were attributed to gummies.

Tinctures comprised 5% of CBN sales and 10% of CBG sales in 2022; about 5% of each are sold as edibles. Clearly, gummies are the vehicle by which CBN and CBG are becoming familiar to shoppers, a trend brands should expand upon while also encouraging shopper interest in other product types.

Analysis

What does this new information from BDSA tell us about best practices when producing and selling CBG and CBN products in 2023 and beyond? Below, we’ll unpack some of the subtler points of BDSA’s analysis to provide some concrete directions on how to proceed in this rapidly evolving minor cannabinoid submarket:

Shoppers are more knowledgeable

First, it’s important to recognize that, slowly but surely, a greater number of shoppers are becoming aware of CBG, CBN, and their potential uses. Increased awareness brings two benefits: shoppers actively seek CBN and CBG, and educated shoppers are more open to these cannabinoids.

More products contain CBG and CBN

It’s a fact that a greater number of products contain CBG and CBN, which is part of the reason overall sales of these cannabinoids have increased so impressively over the last year. The growth each cannabinoid has shown should be viewed differently.

Growth percentages in the thousands are generally not sustainable. In 2022, the CBG market became more saturated, making it unlikely that new CBG products will achieve similar returns now.

CBN’s slower growth in 2022 contrasts with its higher consumer awareness compared to CBG. Properly positioned, CBN products could surpass CBG’s 2022 growth in 2023 and beyond.

CBD market approaches maturity

The CBD market reaching maturity has a variety of important implications. On the one hand, it means that hemp cannabinoids have finally been accepted into the mainstream, a moment proponents have long awaited.

CBD serves as a positive “Trojan horse,” breaking through shopper skepticism and paving the way for other cannabinoids. Inside are CBG, CBN, and a whole host of other minor cannabinoids that intend to spread healing without causing intoxication.

“Minor cannabinoids have huge potential to generate sales growth”

In its closing statements, BDSA concludes that the potential of CBG, CBN, and other minor cannabinoids to generate sales growth is nothing short of “huge.” The two factors prompting this increase, BDSA suggests, are expanding consumer knowledge and a greater number of CBG and CBN products being available.

Minors cannabinoids are replacing indica/sativa concerns

According to BDSA, products including minor cannabinoids like CBN and CBG should primarily be designed to produce repeatable experiences that will ultimately lead shoppers to choose hemp products based on the cannabinoids they contain. The market is currently preoccupied with questionable differences between indica, sativa, and hybrid products, and minor cannabinoids could provide the genuine, chemically explicable diversity of experience the mature hemp market has clearly begun to crave.

Sources

1. 1. Rice, A. (2022, June 7). CBN Sales & CBG Sales See Rapid Growth as CBD Sales Slow. BDSA. https://bdsa.com/cbn-and-cbg-sales-see-rapid-growth/

It’s no secret that Americans are having trouble getting quality sleep. Whether it’s because of stress at work, anxiety, tech overload, or even the inability to relax, sometimes we just can’t seem to shut down. The problem is so widespread it’s becoming an epidemic.

A new report released in 2022, The State of Sleep In America, surveyed Americans and found that nearly one-third of adults (33%), or around 84 million people, regularly experience “poor” to “fair” sleep. Furthermore, over half (55%) of Americans say that sleeping well is a “major priority,” placing it higher on their priority list than other lifestyle factors, such as social interaction (45%) or healthy eating (40%).

While there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem, industry experts anticipate cannabis entrepreneurs have the potential to make a real difference with CBN (cannabinol) as a natural sleep aid. According to industry experts, sleep research funding by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) is expected to reach $520 million in 2023, nearly doubling what it was just a decade ago.

And while sleep deprivation continues sweeping the nation, studies indicate that CBN might be what people need to combat lack of sleep.

In this blog post, we’ll explore America’s sleep crisis and examine CBN’s potential to help those struggling with their snooze cycle get a better night’s sleep.

Sleep 101: The Basics

Typically, when it comes to the pursuit of quality sleep, Americans don’t often think cannabis would be involved. But, given the specific effects of certain cannabinoids on different stages of the sleep cycle, knowledgeable cannabis enthusiasts take a keen interest in understanding their body and their sleep needs.

For them, getting to grips with what they need and why they may suffer from a lack of sleep can help shape the type of cannabis products that would best serve them.

And while we may not all be experts in cannabis or sleep deprivation, it’s worth brushing up on some sleep basics before learning why Americans are facing such severe deprivation and how the herb might just save the day (or night).

A Breakdown of Sleep Needs According to Age

Sleep needs change across the lifespan. In general, experts recommend: 

– Newborns through the first year: up to 18 hours daily
– Ages 1-3: 12-15 hours daily
– Ages 3-5: 11-13 hours daily
– Ages 2-12: 9-11 hours daily
– Teens: 9-10 hours daily
– Adults: 7- 8 hours daily

Sleep Stages: An Overview

As a general guideline, sleep consists of the following stages:

– Stage W (Wakefulness)
– Stage N1
– Stage N2
– Stage N3
– Stage R (Rapid Eye Movement, or REM)

Healthy sleepers cycle between the different stages of sleep every 90 minutes during an eight-hour sleep period. Let’s examine each stage in greater detail to see how they help us recharge.

Stage N1

Stage N1 occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleepiness. Although this brief stage lasts between five to ten minutes, dreams may also occur during this time. While dozing off, the mind is still aware of its surroundings and can be easily roused back to awakeness.

During this phase, there is also a slowing of the brain waves, eye movements, heartbeat, and breathing. The muscles of the body may twitch as relaxation occurs.

Stage N2

After passing Stage N1, the process moves onto Stage N2, during which breathing and heart rate will continue to slow. Throughout the night, Stage N2 should account for about half of the total sleep time. This stage has the following characteristics:

– A lost sense of surroundings
– A decreased internal body temperature
– No eye movement
– Changes in breathing pattern

Also, during this time, the brain produces sleep spindles, characterized by bursts of fast, rhythmic brain waves. Sleep spindles are essential for memory consolidation, when the brain collects, organizes and filters new memories from the previous day.

Additionally, the body takes an even more relaxed state so that it is ready to enter stage N3 and REM, the deepest sleep stages in which the body and mind can recover, rejuvenate, and prepare for the next day.

Stage N3

Stage N3 is also known as Slow Wave Sleep or Delta Sleep due to slowed delta brain waves present during this stage of sleep. During N3 sleep, the body’s miraculous self-healing and repair process occurs, facilitated by the secretion of growth hormone.

In Stage N3, the first segment usually lasts 45-90 minutes. As the night progresses, the duration of subsequent segments of N3 sleep gradually shortens. This stage has the following key characteristics:

– Full muscle relaxation
– Slowed breathing and decreased blood pressure
– Transition to the deepest sleep stage

It is also important to note that N3 sleep diminishes with age, to the point that it can even be absent from seniors at night. Nevertheless, this does not indicate disease or disorder as it happens to healthy sleepers as well.

Stage R (REM)

Stage R is called REM sleep or “rapid eye movement” sleep. REM sleep usually begins between 90 and 110 minutes after falling asleep, with subsequent cycles occurring every 90 minutes.

Over the course of the night, REM sleep periods become longer and longer. Also, the heart rate increases during this cycle, and irregular breathing occurs. Additionally, the dreaming process happens during REM sleep. Stage R dreams tend to be remembered by healthy sleepers.

A particularly clever feature of the body is that it creates chemicals that temporarily paralyze the sleeper to prevent them from ‘acting out’ in their dreams. And for good reason, since people tend to be very active at this stage despite being asleep. In this cycle, the eyes dart back and forth rapidly, just as they do when awake.

Understanding Sleep Disorders and Disruptions

Sleep disorders and disruptions can be an absolute nightmare. Not only are they disruptive to quality of life, but they can also be a sign of something more serious. In light of that, here are a few of the most common sleep disorders and disruptions and how they may interfere with getting a good night’s sleep.

Insomnia

Insomnia occurs when there is difficulty initiating or staying asleep. Early morning awakenings can also occur, where an individual wakes up several hours before their normal schedule and is unable to fall back to sleep. As a result, individuals experience excessive sleepiness during the day, typically resulting in functional impairments during the daytime.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (including episodes of irresistible sleepiness) and sudden muscle weakness. In narcolepsy, sudden muscle weakness can be triggered by strong emotions or surprise. The onset of narcolepsy is commonly referred to as a “sleep attack” and can occur even when walking or doing other physical activities.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)

The symptoms of RLS include unpleasant “creeping” sensations, often originating in the lower legs but accompanied by aches and pains across the legs. It may cause difficulty falling asleep and is relieved by moving the legs, such as walking or kicking.

Sleep Apnea

There is more to snoring than just being annoying. It could be an indication of sleep apnea, characterized by rapid gasping or snorting noises, causing sleep to be interrupted momentarily. Due to frequent interruptions during sleep, those with sleep apnea may also feel excessively sleepy during the day.

Sleep Disruptions

Sleep disruptions can significantly impact individual performance and physical and mental health, leading to increased sluggishness, irritability, and difficulty focusing during the day. For instance, third-shift workers often experience disturbances in natural circadian rhythms and melatonin secretion. Melatonin is necessary for other hormone regulation functions within the body, so repeated disruption can lead to even more complicated issues.

Sleep disturbances resulting from frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom or night sweats can also lead to a compromised ability to concentrate and make decisions.

Perhaps most significant of all is jet lag – the disruption in biological rhythms caused by traveling quickly through multiple time zones that affects sleep, eating, and activity patterns.

All of this disruption can significantly impact an individual’s energy levels, moods, motivation, and ability to function optimally. Getting proper restorative sleep is essential for all individuals striving to maintain good health and productivity.

Americans’ Top Priority Is Sleep, Yet Sleep Quality Remains Low

It is well known that a lack of quality sleep is linked to a lack of overall well-being, which is why it’s no surprise that sleep is the number one priority for Americans. With long work hours, excessive screen time, and hectic lifestyles, overthinking the day’s earlier events and trying to shut off racing thoughts can make getting a good night’s rest feel like an unattainable dream. In the 2022 sleep report, a staggering 81% of Americans say their mental activity — thinking, racing thoughts, and feelings — keeps them awake at night.

Although sleep is recognized as being paramount, sleep quality remains low among many people. Mental health, age, mattress satisfaction, and sex are also closely linked to sleep quality. For example, more women than men say sleep is a top priority (61% vs. 48%, respectively) and worry more about losing sleep.

In addition, Americans’ poor sleep quality also impacts overall economic growth and is linked to weak GDP growth. Research shows the American economy loses an estimated $44.6 billion per year in unscheduled absences among workers as a consequence of poor sleep.

In their quest for relief, Americans are increasingly turning to sleep aids to improve their sleep quality. The most recent statistics show Americans spent $437 million on OTC sleep aids in 2021, double their 2011 spending of $217 million.

The market for natural sleep aids, however, is one worth watching, as it is expected to continue growing. In the wake of America’s crumbling marijuana prohibition, many are turning to health-promoting cannabinoids to find natural sleep remedies.

One phytocannabinoid that has shown promise as a natural sleep aid is cannabinol (CBN).

What Is the Cannabinoid CBN?

CBN is a phytocannabinoid found naturally in high amounts in aged cannabis plants. Unknown to most people is that CBN is actually the very first cannabinoid isolated in 1896 by Thomas Barlow Wood, WT Newton Spivey, and Thomas Hill Easterfield.

With its sedative properties and predominant presence in older cannabis flowers, CBN was often considered a less desirable cannabinoid than CBD or THC. However, despite being the “original” phytocannabinoid, CBN can be regarded as a “sleeper” cannabinoid since in the past, it wasn’t nearly as popular as THC, CBD, or terpenes.

The Unique Connection Between CBN and THC

Scientists now recognize CBN as a major cannabinoid, stemming from a 1999 study done by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In the study, cannabis samples tested after four years were found to contain half of their original THC concentration. In addition, THC converted to CBN as it oxidized and dissipated.

According to the study, the most THC degradation occurred after two years of improper storage, indicating a strong relationship between the conversion of THC to CBN and the vulnerability of the plants.

The study revealed that over time, THC degrades into CBN. Thus the longer cannabis ages, the more CBN it will contain. As a result of the study, researchers have learned how CBN and THC cannabinoids interact differently with CB2 and CB1 receptors.

What Sets CBN Apart From CBD?

Even though they have similar names, CBD and CBN are entirely different molecules. The two cannabinoids are present in both marijuana and hemp (a cannabis subspecies with less than 0.3% THC) originating from CBGA. While some similarities have been discovered regarding their ability to address pain and inflammation, they differ primarily in their intended purposes.

Additionally, CBD has been extensively researched, and studies have revealed its anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant properties. Thus, it serves as an industry staple and powerful therapeutic used by people seeking relief from anxiety, and epilepsy, among others.

And while some research suggests CBN may also possess anticonvulsant properties, most current research focuses on its ability to relax the mind and induce sleep.

The following are notable differences between CBN and CBD:

– A significant amount of CBD is found in hemp plants, making it more accessible and affordable.
– There is more research and understanding of CBD than CBN at present.
– CBN is formed by oxidizing THC, while decarboxylating CBDA present in raw cannabis flowers produces CBD.
– The FDA has approved one CBD-based medication for treating epilepsy/seizures, whereas CBN has not been approved.
– The two compounds are technically psychoactive, but CBD leaves the user unintoxicated, while CBN alters the mind very mildly due to its THC roots.
– CBD reduces appetite, whereas CBN stimulates it.

Although CBN and CBD each have unique benefits and effects, they are likely to complement one another well when combined. When cannabinoids are consumed together, they synergistically amplify each other’s actions, according to a phenomena called the entourage effect. Several studies have demonstrated the entourage effect, including a study showing the combined effects of CBN and CBD reduced pain in rats more effectively than either compound alone.

Does CBN Help With Sleep?

CBN-containing products are marketed as sleep aids by many companies, but does CBN actually alleviate insomnia and sleeplessness? As of yet, we’re still waiting for any solid insights.

Due to decades of cannabis prohibition, the amount of study has been limited, making it difficult to draw any definitive conclusions about the cannabinoid, even though it seems more effective when combined with other cannabinoids such as THC.

Historically, most of the research on cannabinol effects, particularly sedation, has been conducted on rodents. For example, a 1975 study found that CBN increased the sedative effects of THC in mice and rats.

As part of another groundbreaking 1975 clinical trial, five male participants were given various amounts of THC and CBN. Scientists found that ingesting THC and CBN together resulted in more substantial sedative effects than consuming THC alone.

In addition, during the study, participants’ heart rates increased with THC but not with CBN, further indicating that CBN might be effective as a sedative. However, because of the trial’s small sample size and age, its results were promising but inconclusive.

Similar findings were found in a 1995 mouse study that concluded synthetic CBN lengthened mice’s sleep periods. CBN is widely regarded as a powerful sedative based on the results of these studies, which cannabis industry experts have widely accepted. Nevertheless, experts agree that further clinical trials and research are needed to reach any conclusive findings.

Why You Should Consider Offering CBN Products To Your Customers

Even though research is still being conducted concerning CBN’s potential as a sleep aid, the general public seems convinced that CBN can improve sleep, increasing sales of sleep-promoting products containing CBN. Additionally, some awareness has spread about research on CBN as a pain reliever. However, it is more desirable to use this compound alongside other cannabinoids due to the entourage effect.

And while the average buyer doesn’t fully grasp the potential benefits of CBN, CBD has become a household name in a relatively short time, with the entourage effect known to many CBD lovers. As a result, CBD’s value may be boosted in the eyes of consumers when combined with other cannabinoids, such as CBN extract.

What is CBN extract?

CBN extract is produced from cannabis flowers that contain a high level of cannabinoids, most notably the cannabinoid CBN. This bulk hemp ingredient is typically available in several forms, most notably distillate and isolate. CBN distillate and CBN isolate have potency levels ranging from 70-97% of total cannabinoids, and each extract type can be used in a wide range of products.

What is CBN distillate?

With CBN distillate, large amounts of CBN are present in a distilled cannabinoid extract. Even though CBN distillate is far more refined than crude extract, it retains all the terpenes, minor cannabinoids, and other beneficial compounds found naturally in hemp flowers. Due to this feature, CBN distillate is highly preferred for products such as gummies, tinctures, and vaping products.

CBN distillate typically has a honey-like texture and appearance, offering CBN concentrations up to 80%. Although traces of THC can be found in some CBN distillates, this extract can be further purified to yield no detectable amounts of THC.

What is CBN isolate?

CBN isolate is almost entirely composed of pure cannabinol molecules. Due to its high chemical purity of 97%+, CBN isolate is suited to formulate many different products, despite not being particularly useful in its raw form.

The beauty of CBN isolate lies in its superior compatibility with virtually any cannabinoid extract. The nature of this ingredient allows any product to be easily infused with CBN’s distinct and fascinating benefits.

Uses

It’s possible to use CBN distillate and isolate for many of the same purposes despite their differences. For example, in vape cartridges, distillate offers a fuller spectrum of effects, whereas CBN isolate is more suitable for complex formulations that are difficult to balance. Plus, since both forms of the extract can be formulated with undetectable levels of THC, both CBN isolate and distillate are acceptable under federal and various state regulations.

Need Product Ideas?

Examples of products that are suitable for the simplistic nature of CBN isolate include:

– Tablets
– Capsules
– Topicals

Product types that work well with the rich flavor of CBN distillate include:

– Gummies
– Vape cartridges
– Tinctures

In reality, any of the products listed above can include CBN extracts of any type. Your strategy will ultimately depend on your goal and your target audience. You can customize the design of your new CBN-infused sleep products by partnering with an experienced cannabinoid white labeller.

When Sourcing The Ideal CBN Extract, What Should I Look For?

What is the best form of CBN extract for your specific needs now that you know all the essential details about CBN distillate and isolate? Here are some crucial facts to consider.

Historically, cannabinoid isolates were sought after because they contained no THC. However, today, removing any traces of THC from distillate is just as easy, so it is no longer an advantage unique to isolate.

When it comes to today’s hemp products, the primary reason to avoid using CBN distillate is because it has the potential to unbalance existing formulations. For example, for a product that already contains cannabinoid distillates, adding more extracts might not be a good idea. Alternatively, you could use an isolate extract to incorporate CBN into the product.

Realistically, these are just a few factors to consider before selecting a cannabinoid extract, none less important than the other. The best way to design your hemp product line is with the help of a trusted hemp white-label company like GVB Biopharma.

Address your Customers’ Concerns with the Best CBN Extract

The data shows millions of Americans actively seek natural solutions to their sleep problems. We can help you get started if you’re interested in providing customers with a CBN option. Plus, when searching for an effective CBN isolate or distillate, there’s no time to play guessing games. Our team at GVB Biopharma understands the nuances between extracts and is here to help. As an industry leader, we know what it takes to custom-fit products to your desired specifications. With unrivaled expertise, our integrated approach ensures optimal results for each of your final products.

By partnering with GVB Biopharma, you can unlock the maximum potential benefits and make all the difference to your clients and your company. Let us help give you an edge up on the competition with the best CBN extracts designed to give your customers a well-deserved restful night’s sleep. Contact us for your consultation today!

CBN & sleep FAQs

1. Does CBN make you groggy the next day?

People who use CBN before bed do not usually report that this cannabinoid causes grogginess or tiredness the following morning. In general, it is rare for users to complain of grogginess after using any cannabinoid — these natural substances have very limited side effects and have a limited overall impact on the human body and nervous system.

2. Can I take CBN every night?

While there does not appear to be any particular indication that taking CBN on a nightly basis poses any dangers to the average person, that’s the type of question for medical doctors and researchers — not cannabinoid producers. If you take CBN every night and you are worried about developing side effects, ask a doctor for their expert opinion.

3. Is CBN better than melatonin?

It doesn’t make sense to directly compare CBN and melatonin, but it’s true that CBN may have benefits that melatonin lacks while also making up for some of melatonin’s detriments. Melatonin, for instance, is a natural hormone, and nobody knows how introducing this hormone might disrupt melatonin already produced by the brain. The brain doesn’t produce CBN, though, eliminating this particular potential for conflict.

4. What are the side effects of CBN?

People who use CBN don’t usually note any side effects. If any side effects are reported, they almost always consist of excessive sleepiness or mild digestive disturbance. It’s possible that future research may unveil some previously unknown dangers of cannabinoids, but at present, these substances appear to be almost entirely benign.

Sources

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7. 4. Kesner, A. J., & Lovinger, D. M. (2020). Cannabinoids, Endocannabinoids and Sleep. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 13, 125.
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41. 21. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabinol Activate Capsaicin-Sensitive Sensory Nerves via a CB1 and CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor-Independent Mechanism. Peter M. Zygmunt, David A. Andersson and Edward D. Högestätt Journal of Neuroscience 1 June 2002, 22 (11) 4720-4727; DOI:

The CBD industry has expanded in many ways over the last decade. Thousands of times more people use CBD now than they did in the early 2010s, for instance, but the CBD market has also seen a massive expansion in the types of products offered.

During the early days of the industry, even CBD lip balms were viewed with skepticism. Now, the average person doesn’t have a problem with CBD being in drinks you can buy at a grocery store. Over the last few years, beverages have been touted as the next major pivot of the CBD industry, citing interest from major beverage producers and the recent uptick in CBD beer sales. 

Recent data from Hemp Industry Daily

For insights into this microcosm of the CBD industry, we turn to data provided by Hemp Industry Daily¹ for the year ending in March 2021. As the country neared the end of the pandemic, Hemp Industry Daily took a close look at the performance of CBD beverages in grocery stores and convenience stores.

Despite being the anchor for CBD’s entry into many grocery stores, CBD beverages had failed to deliver expected sales volumes in brick-and-mortar environments, a result that initially proved difficult to understand. By providing ample data and analysis, Hemp Industry Daily was able to shed light on the reasons behind the slow growth of CBD beverages in convenience and grocery environments and provide actionable insights going forward. Let’s take a closer look:

Consumers moved online during the pandemic

Hemp Industry Daily interviewed Rick Maturo, a cannabis specialist at legendary polling firm Nielsen, for further insights into this considerable shift in CBD beverage buying behavior. According to Maturo, “the pandemic has reinforced online CBD buyers’ behaviors” and has pushed CBD consumers online due to increased convenience and safety.

Just as CBD beverages were catching on in grocery stores and convenience stores, the pandemic arrived, shifting sales online. With retail shopping behaviors essentially normalizing post-pandemic, it would be reasonable to expect a similar uptick in CBD beverage sales as long as brands offer products that fit the needs of consumers.

CBD sparkling water is the most popular

There’s still a lot we can learn about CBD beverage sales in 2021 to properly prepare for the future’s needs. It’s important to note, for instance, that CBD sparkling water products made up 57% of total retail CBD beverage sales in 2021, suggesting that brands should lean heavily into this particular product type.

Followed by conventional water and tea

Conventional or non-sparkling CBD water products contributed 18% to overall CBD beverage sales, indicating enduring consumer interest in this product category. Packaged and ready-to-drink CBD teas were also reasonably popular (13%), suggesting that these three product types (sparkling water, bottled water, and bottled teas) should take up the majority of the focus of CBD manufacturers investing in beverages.

25mg products are the most popular

Consumers have voted with their dollars to tell brands exactly which dose of CBD they prefer in beverages. These days, it’s not ideal to include less than 10mg of CBD in a conventional 12oz beverage can, and most consumers want even more CBD in their drinks.

While 50mg CBD drinks might be more potent than most users would like, a 25mg dosage appears to hit the sweet spot. If you want to provide exactly what CBD retail consumers want, focus on sparkling CBD water products that contain 25mg CBD each.

Sales contribution of CBD beverage products by milligram:

 – <10mg: 16%

 – 10mg: 12%

 – 20mg: 7%

 – 25mg: 64%

 – Other: 1%

Consumers want a wider array of products to choose from

One refrain that consistently came up in Hemp Industry Daily’s reporting is that retail consumers want to be able to access a wider array of CBD products at their local grocery and convenience stores. In most cases, retailers only stock 1-2 different CBD beverage products, and if those products aren’t to a consumer’s liking, they’ll simply take their business online.

Ideally, convenience stores should offer at least 3-5 different CBD beverages, and grocery stores should have 6-10 options to choose from at the minimum. Any less, and consumers won’t have the patience to settle for the selection in front of them and will contribute to the trend of shopping for CBD online.

CBD beverages aren’t going away

It’s important to stay focused on the bigger picture. According to Nielsen’s Maturo, CBD beverages are still expected to make up 19% of total CBD sales by 2025, contributing nearly $1.3 billion to the domestic hemp market.

The important takeaway is that it’s time for manufacturers to reconfigure their approach to retailing CBD drinks in anticipation of a massive coming upsurge in popularity. It’s not that CBD beverages have no potential in grocery stores but that brands have so-far failed to nail down the CBD drinks consumers want and stores have failed to stock adequate variety.

Further analysis from 360 Market Updates

To better contextualize how the slow growth of CBD beverages in brick-and-mortar environments actually foretells great promise within this sector, we turn to recent analysis provided by market research firm 360 Market Updates. According to the firm’s 2022 report on the CBD beverages market², this subsector of the hemp industry is expected to grow by around 61% per year between now and 2026, swelling in size from $37 million in 2022 to $643 million in 2026.

The rising popularity of CBD beverages may mainly be growing under the surface for now, but this recent analysis predicts the dam will burst in the near future, leading to a renaissance of CBD beverage sales in brick-and-mortar environments. CBD itself had touch-and-go moments before it became a household name, and it’s common for any new product type to experience these growing pains during its first few years on the market.

While it’s true that the analysis conducted by 360 Market Updates differs slightly in its conclusions from the Hemp Industry Daily report, both predict massive growth in the future of the CBD beverage industry.

BevNet’s 2022 take

For further wide-angle data regarding the overall growth trajectory of the CBD beverage industry, let’s look at a recent report from BevNet, another notable market research firm. In its 2022 analysis of the CBD beverage industry³, BevNet reminds us that CBD beverages have been the fastest-growing CBD products since 2018 before moving on to note that 33% of CBD drink purchasers are self-described “stressed-out Millennials.”

Perhaps most notably, BevNet found that nearly half of CBD drink users were daily consumers, indicating a degree of regularity of use not commonly found in other CBD products. Unlike CBD tinctures, gummies, and other conventional oral products which last weeks or months, CBD drinks must be repurchased regularly, leading to greater brand loyalty.

With CBD drinks now staples in many grocery stores nationwide, the likelihood of CBD drink users becoming daily consumers will only grow. The convenience of being able to buy your weekly dose of CBD along with the rest of your shopping will only become more apparent as we return to a pre⁠-pandemic, in-person economy.

Analysis

The most relevant continuing impediment to the success of the CBD beverage industry remains ongoing lack of federal regulatory clarification. In the waning days of 2020, it seemed a near certainty that overall federal cannabis reform was imminent, which would bring with it that further level of legitimization of the CBD industry necessary for major consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to get onboard.

With the pandemic, however, many functions of the federal government became incapacitated, and the hemp industry has become progressively more restive as month after month goes by with little meaningful change. It’s still likely that comprehensive clarification of CBD’s regulatory state remains upcoming, but there’s no longer reasonable confidence in any particular time frame.

Regardless, brands should continue offering the best products they can and proactively observing all possible compliance measures. That’s where working with an established bulk CBD producer can be advantageous — what grocery store and convenience store chains want is assurance that any CBD products they take on won’t increase their exposure to potential litigation.

The superior processes used by major CBD manufacturers can provide that assurance. Knowledge of how to properly produce water-soluble CBD extracts is also still something of a closely guarded industry secret, making it difficult to compete in the closely guarded retail CBD environment if your extract isn’t produced by a respected manufacturer.

What’s most important to keep in mind is that Nielsen still projects that CBD beverages will make up a considerable segment of the overall CBD economy within a few short years. Now, it’s only a matter of how we get there and which brands will end up on top once CBD beverages achieve widespread retail popularity.

To close on an uplifting note, we turn once more to Rick Maturo: “Unlike other hemp-CBD formats, beverages offer brands and retailers a multitude of innovative styles, flavors and functional benefits,” says Maturo, reminding manufacturers that these uniquely desirable features “are all built into a familiar, easy-to-use format.”

CBD beverage sales FAQs

Dive deeper into the world of CBD beverages in the FAQ section below:

1. Are CBD-infused drinks safe?

There’s no inherent reason that CBD-infused drinks should be any safer or more dangerous than any other type of CBD product. As far as ingestion methods go, there’s nothing about orally ingesting CBD in the form of a liquid that should cause concern. The process that makes CBD water-soluble does not change its chemical form, it just encapsulates it into a more easily dissolvable form.

2. What are the best CBD drinks?

The best CBD drinks feature CBD, water, and not much else. Overall, you’re better off without the sweeteners and artificial ingredients that are present in conventional ingredients — which are also present in CBD-infused drinks. Teas and sports drinks are usually okay, but watch out for sodas and other sugary beverages. They often contain artificial sweeteners and flavorings — whether they include CBD or not.

3. What are the pros and cons of CBD drinks?

Let’s break it down, starting with the pros:

– Convenient

– Recognizable product format

– Picked up by big box stores

– Low dose

– Low manufacturing cost

And now, the cons:

– Extra-low doses can lead shoppers to think their drinks are ineffective

– Sometimes contain low-quality or unnecessary ingredients

– CBD only stays suspended in water for around 90 days

4. How much CBD water should I drink?

Most CBD water beverages contain around 5-25mg CBD. Since the average dose of CBD is around 25-50mg, it would make sense to drink around 1-3 CBD drinks at a time. Make sure to look at the dosage before taking a sip, however, since dosage in CBD drinks varies considerably.

Sources

1. 1. MJBizDaily. (n.d.). CBD beverage sales a struggle for major US retailers. Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://hempindustrydaily.com/cbd-beverage-sales-a-struggle-for-major-us-retailers
2. 3. Global Cbd Beverages Sales Market.€“ 360 Market Updates. (n.d.). https://www.360marketupdates.com/global-cbd-beverages-sales-market-16615889
3. 3. Caballero, M. (2022, April 2). Cool, Calm and Climbing: CBD Drinks Keep Growing, Despite Wait for Regulatory Clarity. BevNET.com. https://www.bevnet.com/magazine/issue/2022/cool-calm-and-climbing-cbd-drinks-keep-growing-despite-wait-for-regulatory-clarity/

Proper product testing is of paramount importance in the CBD industry Companies that choose to pursue proper testing protocols inevitably reap the greatest rewards, but new data from Leafreport¹ reveals that a surprisingly small number of CBD producers comprehensively test their products².

Why is CBD product testing so important, and how should the CBD industry respond to its systemic lack of testing rigor? Learn the latest information and discover pragmatic solutions in this guide.

What is CBD product testing?

Since the inception of the modern CBD industry, third-party product testing has been a key tool for expressing product quality to both consumers and regulators³. Though the FDA has not established testing protocols for the CBD industry, following proper testing procedures proactively is understood to be a reasonable policy in anticipation of eventual industry-wide standardization.

In the absence of such testing standardization, third-party lab testing is the only tool at a consumer’s disposal to determine the safety and purity of a CBD product they are considering using. Over the years, consumer awareness of the importance of CBD product testing has risen to the extent that lab reports now serve a marketing purpose that’s just as important as their furtherance of transparency. CBD product lab tests should provide information on the constituent components of the hemp extract and also provide parts-per-million (PPM) information for various common contaminants. Especially due to the hemp plants’ ability to bioaccumulate possible contaminants from soil, total transparency regarding contamination in CBD products is absolutely vital⁴.

Why is CBD product testing important?

CBD product testing provides consumers with assurance that the CBD products they use are safe and provides brands with a key tool for relaying the benefits of their CBD products to consumers. Especially in the absence of meaningful federal regulation of the CBD industry, lab testing is essentially the only mechanism in place to ensure that contaminated products are detected and prevented from entering the CBD supply.

Product testing also provides the overall CBD industry with a level of legitimacy that it would otherwise have difficulty projecting. By conducting proper lab testing, CBD companies prove that they are “on the level” and that their products do not contain detectable levels of THC. Without comprehensive lab testing, CBD users are left in the dark, and the industry itself loses legitimacy.

Areas CBD tests must cover

Due to the nature of the hemp plant, CBD product testing is complex and must cover a variety of different factors. To start, it is important that CBD products fall within 10% of their stated potency. Lab tests must also accurately represent the concentrations of common contaminants they contain, including microbes, heavy metals, and pesticides.

Here is a look at each area in more detail:

Potency

The amount of CBD a product contains is known as its potency. If the total size of a CBD tincture, for instance, is 1000mg and it contains 800mg CBD, its potency is 80%.

The potency information in a CBD lab report should not only pertain to CBD, however. Just as vital is information regarding the concentration of THC in the product, which must remain below 0.3% to be in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill⁵.

Depending on the product, it may also be relevant to relay the concentrations of minor cannabinoids and terpenes present. The role terpenes play in the benefits of hemp products is not being actively explored, and consumers increasingly demand information about the terpenes in their CBD products.

Microbial content

During maturation, hemp is relatively prone to fungal and bacterial infections and may be contaminated with microbes during harvesting and extraction. The onus is on CBD producers to prove they properly prevented microbial contamination while making their products.

Heavy metals

Heavy metal contamination in soil leads to product contamination in a variety of industries, but it is especially prevalent in the CBD industry due to hemp’s bioaccumulative properties. During maturation, hemp draws everything in the surrounding soil into itself — even harmful contaminants like heavy metals. To prove they pursued cultivation processes that prevented contamination, CBD companies must show that their products do not contain any traces of these heavy metals.

Pesticides

Even organic hemp products can become contaminated with pesticides used in neighboring agricultural operations. Carried by air or water runoff, pesticides can enter hemp roots and contaminate flowers, making it essential for hemp brands to provide sufficient evidence that their products are pesticide-free.

The latest data from Leafreport

What Leafreport has to say about the current status of testing in the CBD industry is not particularly positive. In great crisis, there is also great opportunity, though, and by learning about the ways CBD testing currently falls short, we can make sure the industry takes a better approach in the future. At GVB, we strive for excellence in our product quality, testing multiple times throughout the production process to ensure we are producing the highest quality ingredients and finished products on the market. 

Leafreport’s opening paragraph states that “transparency within the CBD industry appears to be stagnating and deteriorating in several critical respects.” Slightly further in, the report goes on to say that “CBD purity testing for three main contaminants… is still conducted at very low rates across the board” and that “the number of brands with products that measure beyond acceptable potency variance levels is rising.”

We’ll get into what all this means below.

Methods

To produce its report, Leafreport analyzed 4,384 products made by 188 different CBD brands. Leafreport conducted its own tests of each product and compared them to the tests provided by the producer. A full list of the criteria Leafreport tested includes:

 – The percentage of products tested for potency

 – The percentage of products that tested within 10% of their stated potency range

 – The percentage of products tested for pesticides

 – The percentage of products tested for heavy metals

 – The percentage of products tested for microbes

Key findings

Here’s a summary of the results of Leafreport’s massive, industry-wide analysis:

 – 20% of brands do not test their products for pesticides, heavy metals, or microbes

 – 28% of brands did not test for pesticides

 – 26% did not test for heavy metals

 – 24% did not test for microbes

 – Only 7% of brands tested for all three contaminants

 – 42% of brands test the potency of almost all their products

 – Only 12% of brands had all their products test within 10% of the stated potency

 – 88% of brands had at least one product that tested outside the acceptable potency variance

 – Two brands did not provide any test results whatsoever

Analysis

In some ways, Leafreport’s new 2022 data has improved over 2021’s analysis. Twenty-five percent of brands failed to provide purity testing in 2021, representing a 5% year-over-year decrease. The percentage of brands that test for all three common contaminant types also improved by one percentile point.

In other areas, however, testing within the CBD industry worsened. 84% of brands had at least one product that tested outside the acceptable potency variance in 2021, for instance, marking a trend of four percentile points in the wrong direction in 2022.

Leafreport summarizes its data thusly: “Compared with our 2021 analysis, brand commitment to potency, purity testing, and ensuring acceptable levels of potency variance appears to be floundering.” Even if brands are weary of a continuing lack of comprehensive federal guidance on CBD, the only option is to stay the course and place further emphasis on industry standardization and preemptive compliance.

To conclude, Leafreport turns to two major executives in the CBD space, Papa & Barkley’s Guy Rocourt and Green Roads’ Laura Fuentes. Both concur that the CBD industry is engaged in a “race to the bottom” in which “many brands who only do the bare minimum that is required by law.”

The answer, Fuentes says, is not necessarily further regulation. “[T]he best way consumers can protect themselves is by choosing reputable CBD brands.”

Choose your CBD products wisely

The message that CBD consumers should take out of Leafreport’s 2022 data is that it is more important than ever before to choose your CBD products with an abundance of caution. While the trajectory of the CBD industry appeared firmly pointed at ever-greater professionalism and rigor a few years ago, something within the industry’s culture has seemingly soured.

It is not too late to put things straight. The best members of the CBD manufacturing community can now take it upon themselves to set a standard for compliance and testing that makes it impossible for brands that do not take testing seriously to compete.

Continue calling for rigorous testing

The best way to ensure a better future for CBD product testing is to continue raising awareness about the importance of testing and the vital role it must play in the consumer decision-making process. The more CBD consumers know they should only purchase safe, tested products, the more that disreputable brands will either be forced to adopt proper testing standards or go out of business.

Rising testing standards are not the only facet of the CBD industry that has recently stagnated — everywhere throughout the world of cannabis and hemp, stakeholders are feeling the squeeze as global economic conditions tighten and geopolitical projections destabilize. True leaders in the CBD industry are now presented with an opportunity to lead a consolidated industry into a future of greater standardization, improved product quality, and even more widespread acceptance.

State of testing in the CBD industry: FAQs

1. How are CBD products tested?

CBD products are usually tested using chromatography, a method that involves separating and measuring components in a mixture. A variety of chromatography methods can be used with CBD products, and each lab has its own proprietary approach to the process. Contact a specific lab if you have questions about their testing methodology. 

2. Does CBD have to be tested?

While there is no legal requirement for CBD products to be tested at the federal level, it has become the sign of a high-quality and trustworthy CBD product if it is accompanied by a verifiable lab report. In the absence of meaningful federal regulations that would otherwise ensure quality within the CBD industry, shoppers must rely on tools like lab tests to determine if the CBD products they use are safe and effective.

3. How do you tell if CBD is high-quality?

Since federal regulations regarding CBD are still lacking, it remains a case that lab reports are the most effective tools you can use when determining the quality of a CBD product. Always ask if you have any questions about the lab reports a company provides for its products.

Sources

1. 1. Evans, D. G. (2020). Medical fraud, mislabeling, contamination: all common in CBD products. Missouri Medicine, 117(5), 394. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7723146/
2. 2. Stone, E. F. (2022, October 16). CBD Market Transparency Report: Only 7% of Brands Test for Pesticides, Heavy Metals and Microbes. https://www.leafreport.com/education/cbd-market-transparency-report-only-7-of-brands-test-for-pesticides-heavy-metals-and-microbes-16349
3. 3. Blebea, N. M., Costache, T., & Negres, S. (2019). The qualitative and quantitative analysis of CBD in hemp oils by UHPLC with PDA and applications. Animal Science, 72(1). Retrieved from http://animalsciencejournal.usamv.ro/pdf/2019/issue_1/Art20.pdf
4. 4. Rheay, H. T., Omondi, E. C., & Brewer, C. E. (2021). Potential of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for paired phytoremediation and bioenergy production. GCB Bioenergy, 13(4), 525-536. Retrieved from  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcbb.12782
5. 5. Abernethy, A. (2019). Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Testimony_Abernethy%2007.25.19.pdf

Social anxiety disorder has affected people for millennia, but it is only recently that psychologists have been able to identify this mental health disorder and provide assistance to those in need of help. With conventional treatments for social anxiety often coming at a cost, both patients and clinicians have increasingly looked to natural therapies for the answer.

Over the last decade, CBD has received a startling amount of attention as a potential social anxiety aid. During that same period, millions of people have used CBD for anxiety, providing a massive amount of anecdotal evidence. What does it all say about the usefulness of CBD for social anxiety? Find out in this review of recent research¹.

What is CBD?

CBD is the most popular and well-known cannabinoid found in hemp. Lacking intoxicating properties, CBD instead usually provides a gently relaxing feeling without manifesting any considerable side effects.

Since it is now abundant in hemp, products containing CBD are now equally abundant on the internet. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabinoid products containing less than 0.3% THC are generally considered industrial hemp, so CBD products are bought and sold in all 50 states with few meaningful restrictions².

What does CBD do?

Not displaying the defining characteristics of THC-containing cannabis, CBD mildly calms and relaxes you instead of making you high. Even though they consist of the same atoms, CBD has a considerably different structure from THC. Furthermore, the two compounds have affinities for entirely separate parts of the brain.

Because of this difference, no matter how much CBD you consume, you will not get high. If the usual experience is any rubric, though, you will most likely feel increasing stages of relaxation as you take larger doses of CBD — to the extent that some users complain of falling asleep after taking unusually high doses of this sometimes-soporific cannabinoid.

What is social anxiety?

Social anxiety is a psychiatric disorder typified by the fear of social situations, such as meeting new people or public speaking, with an underlying perception that they are under the scrutiny of others.2 Sometimes caused by trauma, social anxiety can also emerge due to no discernible cause or be related to neurochemical or genetic complications. Social anxiety can be debilitating to those who suffer from it and common pharmaceutical treatments are often ineffective or cause considerable side effects.

What are the symptoms of social anxiety?

Someone who experiences social anxiety will typically have anxious symptoms that become progressively worse when exposed to triggering social situations. These symptoms can manifest as both physical and psychological symptoms. On the psychological side, social anxiety often appears in the form of intrusive, negative thoughts regarding social situations. Patients commonly feel embarrassed or even humiliated by their intrinsic behaviors or personal appearance, or they may fear feeling that way when exposed to social situations.

The symptoms of social anxiety often take on the form of a negative synergy in which fear of exhibiting certain physical symptoms causes them to manifest, leading to a feedback loop that can end in full-blown panic attacks. Due to this inability to interact socially, individuals with social anxiety often retreat from society, depriving themselves of the many benefits of social interaction.

Research into CBD and social anxiety

Though studies into the usefulness of CBD for other forms of anxiety were conducted during the period, not much research was published regarding CBD for social anxiety after 2011 until a flurry of data suddenly arrived in 2019. The results of a clinical study published in the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry in January of that year was one of the first to bring in this new data⁴.

This trial consisted of a much larger sample than its 2011 predecessor with 57 healthy male subjects participating. The volunteers were separated into groups that received either 150mg, 300mg, 600mg, or 0mg (placebo) of CBD prior to a social anxiety test.

Researchers found that while both 150 mg and 600 mg had positive responses, compared to placebo, pretreatment with 300 mg of CBD had the most significant reduction in anxiety during the speech phase. The results from this study indicate that acute doses of CBD can decrease public speaking anxiety in some individuals and that there may be an effective dose window when using CBD for social anxiety.

Is CBD useful for social anxiety?

People have bought and continue to buy large amounts of CBD with the express purpose of using it for social anxiety, indicating there is some merit to the idea that CBD should be investigated further for this potential purpose. When you take the reported personal accounts along with research studies of CBD into account, the apparent efficacy of this cannabinoid to potentially relieve symptoms of social anxiety becomes clear.

People who use CBD report feeling more confident and less afraid, explaining in common-sense terms why this simple, non-intoxicating cannabinoid has rapidly become one of the most popular natural remedies for anxiety in all its forms.

Which types of CBD products are best for social anxiety?

At this point, it is unclear which forms of CBD products might be the most effective against social anxiety from a scientific point of view. The majority of clinical studies that have been conducted with CBD and social anxiety typically involve administering large doses of CBD orally.5 Further research is needed regarding the specific dosage to improve the knowledge base on how to dose anxiety symptoms appropriately. 

When you take anecdotal testimony into account, however, things become considerably clearer. As available scientific research suggests, people with social anxiety tend to report positive results when taking CBD orally. Thus, standard oral CBD products like tinctures, gummies, and capsules should all be taken into consideration.

Summary: Should CBD be used against social anxiety?

Putting aside the merits of CBD for a moment, there is a clear and critical need to identify and develop effective, safe, and natural treatments for social anxiety and all other anxiety disorders. As a result, it is imperative that any promising treatment — including CBD — be explored if it shows any likelihood of relieving the mental health crisis currently gripping the world. As long as it continues to not display any unexpected dangers or detractors, CBD should certainly be taken seriously as a potential solution to social anxiety and other anxiety-related disorders. 

CBD & social anxiety FAQ

1. Does CBD help in social situations?

At this point, thousands of people have reported that CBD has helped them overcome social anxiety. While anecdotal evidence can be compelling, there’s a big difference between what people say about something and what it actually does. To that end, preliminary research is being conducted to explore the possible connections between CBD and social anxiety have emerged — but, only a few relevant studies have been published so far.

2. How can I reduce my social anxiety naturally?

CBD is far from the only thing you can try if you want to naturally reduce your social anxiety. For some people, even purely psychological tactics like deep breathing (in through the nose, out through the mouth) or visualization exercises can be effective.

Also, entirely substance-free, cognitive approaches like meditation and therapy have become very popular in recent years as methods for treating anxiety. All told, there are dozens of options at your disposal if you’re determined to reduce your social anxiety and only want to use natural means.

3. What are the top 5 mental health uses of CBD?

Aside from social anxiety (#1), people also commonly use CBD for general anxiety (#2), depression (#3), PTSD (#4), and ADHD (#5). Overall, those uses comprise the top 5 reasons people with mental health concerns turn to CBD.

4. What is the root cause of social anxiety?

The root cause of anxiety is different for everyone, but some examples of factors that can support anxiety disorders include:

– Past trauma

– Neurological makeup

– Genetics

– Process of ideation

– And many more

The best way to determine the root cause of your particular anxiety disorder is to consult with a qualified psychiatric professional.

Sources

1. 1. Bergamaschi, M. M., Queiroz, R. H. C., Chagas, M. H. N., De Oliveira, D. C. G., De Martinis, B. S., Kapczinski, F., … & Crippa, J. A. S. (2011). Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naive social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(6), 1219-1226. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/npp20116
2. 2. Abernethy, A. (2019). Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Testimony_Abernethy%2007.25.19.pdf
3. 3. National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Social Anxiety Disorder. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/social-anxiety-disorder
4. 4. Linares, I. M., Zuardi, A. W., Pereira, L. C., Queiroz, R. H., Mechoulam, R., Guimarães, F. S., & Crippa, J. A. (2019, February). Cannabidiol presents an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve in a simulated public speaking test. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 41(1), 9–14. Retrieved from https://www.scielo.br/j/rbp/a/ksNG6tq9JC8pT8rdmCk7TTb/?lang=en
5. 5. Skelley, J. W., Deas, C. M., Curren, Z., & Ennis, J. (2020). Use of cannabidiol in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 60(1), 253-261. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S154431911930514X

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can interfere with a person’s ability to relax. Furthermore, this trauma-related disorder is difficult to treat with medications¹. CBD is a cannabinoid that many people find to be uniquely calming and soothing. As a result, it is natural to consider using CBD for PTSD, but is this approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder backed by science?

In this guide, learn why CBD is theorized to be useful for PTSD, and discover recent scientific research that might back this position. CBD should certainly be researched further for its potential to help with PTSD — as you will see as we continue.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa². While similar compounds like cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN) have also come to light recently, CBD is considerably popular over any cannabinoid aside from THC. It is the undisputed cornerstone of the online hemp market. In terms of effects, CBD will not cause any sort of euphoric, pleasureful high. It does, however, generally help you relax and research suggests that the use of CBD might be helpful to reduce symptoms of anxiety³. Since anxiety remains such a major target of CBD research, it was only a matter of time until this profoundly beneficial cannabinoid would be researched for PTSD as well.

What are the benefits of CBD?

Despite its notable lack of intoxicating effects, CBD nonetheless appears to exert a wide range of benefits in the human body. People who use CBD commonly report that it reduces their pain, helps them get to sleep at night, and alleviates their overall anxiety levels⁴. International researchers are hard at work exploring these claims, seeking to either discount or substantiate CBD’s apparent benefits in the furtherance of the science of natural health.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a persistent set of negative emotions and behaviors centered around a past traumatic event or series of events. Often founded upon feelings of guilt or continued fear of danger, PTSD represents both a cognitive and neurochemical puzzle to clinicians, many of whom have been forced to classify cases of PTSD as “treatment-resistant.”¹

Along with depression and other mental conditions that appear to be treatment-resistant, PTSD has been extremely challenging for the medical community. With some people reporting improved symptoms after using CBD for PTSD, more attention is being paid to this simple, non-intoxicating cannabinoid and its incredible healing power⁵.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

If you are managing symptoms of PTSD, it is common to no longer feel in control of your own mind and behaviors. Some patients experience vivid flashbacks in which it is like they are reliving the trauma once more.

For almost all PTSD patients, intrusive thoughts are common. Defined as uncontrolled and often damaging ideas and self-perceptions, intrusive thoughts continually plague PTSD patients throughout all hours of the day and night.

These thoughts and other symptoms make sleep or even just basic relaxation difficult for PTSD patients. It is understandable why scientists are so interested in the potential usefulness of CBD’s benefit palette against the unnecessary torment that accompanies  PTSD.

Research into CBD for PTSD

In the April 2019 edition of the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine, the results of a study conducted by Elms et. al. were published that revealed CBD as a substance that could potentially deliver relief from the symptoms of PTSD.6 The study included 11 subjects, but even this small set of data is enough to draw some initial conclusions about the actual usefulness of administering CBD for PTSD in a clinical setting.

The subjects were all patients at a psychiatry clinic that also received routine psychiatric care during the course of the study. At the end of the eight-week study, 91% (or 10) of the 11 patients reported improvements in their PTSD symptoms after using CBD. Using the PTSD Checklist provided with the DSM-5, the facilitators of the study calculated an overall 28% decrease in PTSD symptom severity among the patients.

The authors of the study concluded that orally administering CBD over the eight-week window “was associated with PTSD symptom reduction in adults with PTSD”. Perhaps most interestingly, the authors go on to note that “CBD also appeared to offer relief in a subset of patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD”. These findings line up with academic and anecdotal evidence regarding the sleep-impacting effects of CBD.

Is CBD useful for PTSD?

The study we examined above is hardly the only piece of published research pertaining to CBD and PTSD. A handful of clinical trials into using CBD for PTSD have been initiated in the United States, for instance, and all signs point to this research accelerating in recent years.

Across the medical research discipline, an evolving sense of importance is being placed on conditions like PTSD for which we currently have no truly effective treatments. Whether it is psychedelics or cannabinoids, scientists and medical institutions are eager to find treatments for affective and stressor-based disorders that actually work without causing considerable side effects. We will know more about CBD’s usefulness for PTSD as this research continues.

The bottom line: Should CBD be used for PTSD?

It certainly appears that CBD should continue being seriously examined as a potential treatment for PTSD. While initial research directly into the usefulness of CBD for PTSD is certainly intriguing, what’s even more promising is the overall impressiveness of CBD’s apparent usefulness for mental health. From anxiety to depression to PTSD, people swear by CBD, and it’s about time we discovered exactly why.

CBD PTSD FAQs

1. How do you calm down when you have PTSD?

Some of the most basic ways that people calm down when they are feeling the symptoms of PTSD include deep breathing and visualizing calm or soothing environments or images. Therapists may ask people with PTSD to try additional techniques when symptoms occur, but ultimately, the most valid approach is gently soothing the underlying emotions that support PTSD. This is a complex process that no single substance can facilitate on its own.

2. What strain of CBD is best for pain?

No one is quite sure if there is a particular strain of CBD-rich hemp flower that is better for pain than others. If CBD is good for pain overall, though, the strain with the highest concentration of CBD would most likely be the most effective in that regard. At the same time, cannabis is a massively complex plant that we are only beginning to understand — perhaps some combination of cannabinoids and terpenes might be more effective than any one cannabinoid alone.

3. Does CBD help with feeling overwhelmed?

Some people feel that taking CBD can help them relax when they are overwhelmed. Most CBD products take a while to kick in, however, so expecting immediate relief from feelings of overwhelm might be a bit unreasonable.

4. What kind of CBD is best for severe anxiety?

If you suffer from severe or acute onset of anxiety, you’ll want to use a form of CBD that kicks in quickly. CBD tinctures, for instance, absorb in your mouth before swallowing, potentially allowing faster activation times. Ask your doctor if you have any further questions about treating severe anxiety.

Sources

1. 1. Fonzo, G. A., Federchenco, V., & Lara, A. (2020). Predicting and managing treatment non-response in posttraumatic stress disorder. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 7(2), 70-87, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7748158/
2. 2. Protti, M., Brighenti, V., Battaglia, M. R., Anceschi, L., Pellati, F., & Mercolini, L. (2019). Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L.: a new tool based on HPLC–DAD–MS/MS for a rational use in medicinal chemistry. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 10(4), 539-544.Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466817/
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